Flying machine



Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2| nvm/Tol?l G. CAPRONI.

y FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION man MAY14, 1920.

PATEN A GIANNI CAPRONI, F MILAN', ITALY.

` FLYING MACHINE Specification ofLctters Patent. Patented June 27 1922.

Application led May 14, 1920. Serial No. 381,309.

Y multiplanes, and for illustration the invention is shown as applied tol a pentaplan'e.

, The general object is to so improve the system of construction, especially of pentaplanes, as to attain certain highly desirable and essential advantages, namely simplicity of structure, and reduction of weight, and therefore the strains, to a minimum, `yet v preserving great strength and rigidity,

thereby minimizing the danger of injury or breakage. The further and more particular objects and advantages of the present invention will be elucidated in the hereinafter following description of one form or embodiment thereof or will be apparent to those skilled in the art. v

The main body of the aeroplane may be considered as comprisin on each 'o its symmetrically opposite sides a number of sections or trellisr spaces, of which two are herein shown, although more would give a greater width of machine. The space within each trellis or section may be considered as divided by the superposed planes or wings into a to or superior cell, a bottom or inferior ce l, and at least one intermediate cell, or in the case of a pentaplane, two. The present invention has to do with the building up f this structure or-system of cells and trellises by means of interconnecting members, as will be described, extending between the respective planes, or rather the frame-work within said planes, and with the arrangement, relation and mode of linterconnection of these various elements.

In the accompanying drawings showing one convenient form or embodiment of the present invention, Fig. l is a 'diagrammatic front elevation intended to show the principle or system of structure, this view omit- 'ting the Wing surfaces and many details such Fig. 2 is a partial similar front diagrammatic, view showing a modified arrangement or embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a suiicient l portion of the pentaplane shown in Fig. 1 to the various structural. members,

141g. 4 is a partial side elevation.

indicate the relation and interconnection of The framework or structure within the several wings or planes is indicated diagramniatically at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in Fig. l,

and these references may be considered as pertaining more particularly to the longitudinal members or beams of the framework, of which there may be one near the forward edge and another near the aft edge of each wing. The entire interior structure is unnecessary to illustrate, and would confuse the drawings. In Fig. 3 are indicated. in dotted lines, the Asuperior wing or plane 16 and those successively beneath it, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the last being the bottom or inferior wing` or plane, and the five being spaced apart in proper relation according to any convenient principles of arrangement. A fuselage or nacelle 21 is shown, carrying a motor 22 and tractor propeller, .23; and obviously these elements may be duplicated or variously modified. Underneath the planes is any desired structure, for landing on water or land; for example the landing chassis 25- is shown, connected'to the main portion of the machine by a system of struts 26 and 27. The axle 28 carries the usual pneumatic wheels 29.

At the central portionor nucleus of the machine a rigid structure of interconnected members may be afforded as follows. Near the center and spaced apart from each other are the :rigid upright bars or struts 31 31.

These may be separate bars extending co lectively the full height of the machine, and jointed Ato each other and to the ivewing frames or longitudinal beams 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15; or the live may be rigidly united into a single rigid upright. yBetween the opposite rigid uprights 31, and interconnecting them withthe wing frames, are shown a series of tension members or cables. Thus. the diagonal cables 34 extend from the center of beam l2 to the junctionsof beam l1 with the uprights 3l. The cables 35 in' the next lower cell are substantially continuous of the cables 3 4. A. similar arrangement of cables 36 and 37 is shown in the lowest two cells of the nucleus.

The subject of the remainder of the description, being symmetrically equivalent at ythe two sides, will for convenience be described only at one side. The opposite side will bennderstood to be the same. Also, while the diagram, Fig. 1, indicates only a single interconnecting member at each position, it will be understood that there will be at least two'that is, one near the forward of aeroplane is afforded.

A series of rigid .uprlghts or struts may be considered as dividing the system of vsuperposed planes into trellises or cells.

Thus, at each. side of the center, and spaced well out'from the nucleus, is shown at each side an upright rigid bar o r bars 32 simllar to the uprights 31,. and formlng between 31 and 32 the first trellis. A second trellis is shown, being comprised between the uprights 32 and a third similar upright 33 spaced still furtherv from the center.- .The three rigid -uprights 31, 32 and 33 at each side firmly unite the five planes into a solid strong structure.v

These uprights may be constructed of hollow metal or of wood in a'known manner and having, in cross section, an advantageous contour or streamline to minimize resistance as the member cuts through theair.

The Amost characteristic 'feature of the present invention consists in a special construction ofl `bracing and superior and inferior,-cell rows, by which I mean the interplanev spaces between the planes 1 and 2, on the one hand,'and the'- terconnections of the entire machine. I

and 20, -it will be observed that I have prof,

vided a plurality of rigid secondary uprights 41 spaced from each other, extending between the frames 14 and 15, and located between the main uprights 31 and 32. Again similar ysecondary uprights are shown between the main uprights 32 and 33. The

strengthening twherein 'each of the extreme, that is the truss structure' may be simply and effectively completed by means of rigid diagonals 42 each extendinfrfrom the intersection of the upright 4]. with one of theframes, to the intersection of the main upright with the other of the frames. This light strong structure, carried the entire width of the machine. between the frames 14 and 15, suffices lo substantially convert the lowest cell row into a rigid elongated truss, The superior cell row, between the frames 11 and 12, is shown as similarly trusse'd by rigid secondary uprights 43 and diagonals 44.

v Cooperating with the described bracing system, I have shown, for each trellis space, a general bracing system extending from the superior to the inferior plane. shown as effected by 'what mayv be termed Ithe main diagonal ca1bles*"4.6, 46 extending from corner to corner of each trellis and suitably united, if desired, with each of the.

This is I planes intersected by the cables, especially.

the middle frame13, at47.

An equivalent structure is indicated in Fig. 2 whereinthe arrangement is generally the same, `but the number of short or secondary 'rigid uprights 48 within each trellis space is increased to four and the short rigid diagonals are replaced by crossed tension members or cables 49 within each sub-divided cell.

The effect of either described construction, or other equivalents embodying this invention, affords special advantages, resulting in minimizing the stresses created in the machine under the influence of air pressure.

If we ignore the elements of truss-structure y in the superior and inferior cell rows, it will be perceived that the effect of' upward air pressure will tend to exert an action of compression in the topmost-or superior wing or plane'll and an action of tension in the inferior plane 15. If we now ,consider the truss structures between the' frames 11 and 12, and between frames 14 and 15, these being inter-united with each other and with the middle plane 13 by the'rigid uprights 31, 32 and 33, it will be observed that the tendency in the superior plane is to the creation of tension, and inthe inferior plane compression. These two sets of forces thus tend to a substantial extent to counterbalance and offset each other, thus materially reducing the resultingstress, and minimiz ing the strains imposed on the'pla-nes and structural members. 'In this way a considerable reduction of Weight is permitted, which in turn effects a further reduction of stress. I do not deem it necessary to completely expound the theory of the stressesv involved, but from the explanation given it will be seen that in practical usethe present invention accomplishes, to a large degree, thte dobjects and advantages previously rec1 e f In addition to the features speciically claimed hereinbelow are broader features made the subject of claim in applicants cop/Iending application Serial No. 381,307, filed Since certain matters of arrangement, form and detail may be modiied without departing from the principles involved, it .is not intended to limit the present invention to such features, except in so far as set forth in the, appended claims.

t What is claimed is:

1. A multiplane of four or more superposed planes having spaced apart uprights each connected to the frames of all 'the planes; and, extending between the upper two planes, aAtruss system comprising such uprights and diagonal brace members giving unitary rigidity to the combined upper two planes, and between the lower two planes such a truss system giving unitary rigidity to the combined lower two planes, and a separate means bracing the entire systemof planes comprising-a system of long diagonal tension members extending from the topmost tothe lowermost frames.

2'. A pentaplane having its five superposed combined frames, and such interplane trussing within lthe inferior cells to constitute a rigid truss of the lower two combined frames. l

3.- A multiplane having four or more superposed pl-anes, opposite rigid upri hts near the center, and braces between t em constituting a nucleus, additional rigid uprights beyond said uprights, diagonal braces rigidifying the whole, and bracing means between the first and second and between the last two planes to independently render them rigidly unitary. v

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

' GIANNI CAPRONI. 

